RESOLUTION STRONGLY CONDEMNING THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FOR USING IMAGES OF ERNESTO ''CHE'' GUEVARA IN AN E-MAIL RECOGNIZING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

Indexes:

LEGISLATURE

Sponsors:

Esteban L. Bovo, Jr., Co-Prime Sponsor

Jose "Pepe" Diaz, Co-Prime Sponsor

Rebeca Sosa, Co-Sponsor

Sen. Javier D. Souto, Co-Sponsor

Sunset Provision:
No

Effective Date:

Expiration Date:

Registered Lobbyist:

None Listed

Legislative History

Acting Body

Date

Agenda Item

Action

Sent To

Due Date

Returned

Pass/Fail

Board of County Commissioners

10/23/2012

11A22

Adopted

P

REPORT:

Commissioner Bovo expressed opposition to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) using the image of Ernesto “Che” Guevara in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month. He noted this honor should be bestowed upon individuals who embodied American ideals of giving unselfishly. Commissioner Bovo suggested the names of several individuals who were worthy for this honor.
Commissioner Diaz concurred with Commissioner Bovo’s comments and pointed out that Ernesto Guevara was a murderer who should not be used as a symbol for Hispanic Heritage. He noted the EPA used less scrutiny when screening individuals to represent Hispanic honors. Commissioner Diaz expressed support for this resolution.
Commissioner Sosa spoke in support and asked to be added as a co-sponsor to this item. She expressed her hopes that this would increase awareness on this important matter.
Commissioner Souto expressed his support and asked to also be added as a co-sponsor.
Commissioner Bell expressed support noted she was befuddled by the EPA selected “Che” Guevara who was an Argentinean Marxist Revolutionary who murdered many people.
Hearing no further questions or comments, the Board proceeded to vote

County Attorney

10/11/2012

Assigned

Jess M. McCarty

Legislative Text

TITLE

RESOLUTION STRONGLY CONDEMNING THE UNITED STATES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY FOR USING IMAGES OF ERNESTO “CHE” GUEVARA IN AN E-MAIL RECOGNIZING HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH

BODY

WHEREAS, in September, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sent out an internal e-mail with images of Ernesto “Che” Guevara in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month; and
WHEREAS, the e-mail included a picture of a man riding in a donkey-pulled cart in front of a mural depicting Guevara and the phrase “Hasta La Victoria Siempre” or “On to Victory Always”; and
WHEREAS, Guevara played a pivotal role in Fidel Castro’s seizing of power in Cuba, and used his position in the Castro regime to send countless innocent people to their deaths before firing squads; and
WHEREAS, Guevara administered and personally supervised the execution of countless political prisoners without trial or due process; and
WHEREAS, Guevara guided the Castro regime towards aligning with the Soviet Union, espoused strong Anti-American sentiments, was an enemy of freedom and a merciless executioner; and
WHEREAS, Guevara was generally considered to be a racist and a number of racist sentiments are expressed in Guevara’s writings; and

WHEREAS, Guevara was quoted as saying that “if Christ himself stood in my way, I, like Neitzsche, would not hesitate to squish him like a worm”; and
WHEREAS, Guevara also played a key role in bringing Soviet nuclear weapons to Cuba leading up to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and stated that his causes would have been worth the possibility of "millions of atomic war victims” in the United States; and
WHEREAS, it was highly inappropriate for the United States Environmental Protection Agency to have used images of Guevara to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that this Board:
Section 1. Strongly condemns the United States Environmental Protection Agency for using images of Ernesto “Che” Guevara in an e-mail recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month.
Section 2. Directs the Clerk of the Board to send certified copies of this resolution to the Florida Congressional Delegation and the Administrator of the United States Environmental Protection Agency.